7861To Benjamin Franklin from Charles Churchill, 14 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Singular as this address may appear at first sight, I am sanguine to beleive it will not pass unnoticed by you: Though I have not at present the long-wish’d-for honor to be personally known (to a Gentleman, whose well-known abilities, and incorruptible integrity of character, recommended him to the confidence of the noblest association ever formed to stem...
7862To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn, 12 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had the honour of writing to your Excellency on the 2d. inst, Since which I have been favour’d with your Excellency’s letter of the 4th. As nothing can aford me greater pleasure then to be instrumental in helping your Excellencys charitable & humane vews in favour of the French Sailors who belonged to Capn. Cunningham & who have been Exchanged by the last...
7863To Benjamin Franklin from Marie Catherine Biheron, 26 June 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ay remit à notre Amis le depots de papie dont vous m’aviez fait l’honneur de me charger concernant la Traduction de vos excelents ouvrages de phisique. Jespert en proffiter des premiere. Cette étude me sera d’autant plus agreable que je la tiendray de vous et de notre amis Dubourg. Lui et sa chere Epouse Mademoiselle Bassenporte, Mr. Dalibart et tous ceux...
7864Gabriel de Sartine to Benjamin Franklin: A Translation, 16 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have received the letter which you did me the honor to write to me on the subject of the French Ship Isabella which the American Privateer General Mifflin recaptured from a Guernsey privateer. In the general Thesis, you may see the Dispositions of the Ordinance of the Marine of 1681 which adjudges to Captains captors of recaptured vessels when they have been during 24 Hours in the Enemies...
7865To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Morris, 3 December 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania; copy: Library of Congress I was yesterday morning favoured with yours of the twelfth of September, inclosing third copies of your two Letters of the twenty sixth of July, also a copy of Count de Vergennes Letter to you of the twenty third of August. I find by these Letters that the Idea I had entertained as to the advances made by the Court, was not so...
7866To Benjamin Franklin from the Comte de Louitz(?), 21 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society This note, the purpose of which is as hard to determine as the writer’s name, serves to introduce a large and diverse category of people seeking favors large or small. Four ask for nothing beyond a few minutes of Franklin’s time; what they want is any one’s guess. Three merely request information. Two ask about a cure for dropsy, three wish to have letters...
7867To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Mercier, [before 10 February 1779] (Franklin Papers)
D : University of Pennsylvania Library In the spring of 1777, the commissioners had contracted with Mercier to repair the arms which they had purchased from Montieu. By the summer of 1778, Jonathan Williams, Jr. had become so suspicious of Mercier’s bills that he ordered the work stopped and refused further payments. Mercier, unable to justify his accounts to Williams, then turned to the...
7868To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 21 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): National Archives I was detained at Versailles forty hours from the time of my arrival, and was then informed by M de Genet that an express had been sent from Court with the necessary orders to the Kings Officers at L’Orient respecting Captain Landais and the Alliance. I found myself here early yesterday morning fifty four hours after leaving...
7869To Benjamin Franklin from A. Ray, 12 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The motive which induces me to take the liberty of addressing you, will I hope be a sufficient apology, for my seeming impertinence— It is simply the love of your country, and a warm desire, to have my designs supported, and forwarded, by so respectable a man— I have not the honour to be known to you, though some of your particular acquaintance, have been...
7870To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 3 September 1758 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I miss’d writing on Friday and Yesterday no Post went from hence, otherwise I should before have acknowledgd the Receipt of your Favour of the 30th. Ulto. Mr. Jackson is prevented from setting off from here so soon as he intended by reason of the matrimonial Affair he mentioned to us not being quite settled. He says he has Letters from the Parties almost...
7871To Benjamin Franklin from Jane Mecom, 5–15 December 1774 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Harvard University Library Since I wrote last, which was by Captain Calahan, I received yours of Sepr. 28. Your affectionate concern for my satisfaction excites my sincerest gratitude and warmest affections. I am pleased beyond expression to find you are not discouraged under all you and our dear Country suffer. I myself am not much discouraged but I feared I was only foolhardy,...
7872To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Paine, 24 October 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I congratulate you on your accession to the State of Minister Plenipotentiary. Could you have lived to fill a particular point in the Circle of human Affairs, it would have been That to which you are now so honorably called. We rub and drive on, all things considered beyond what could ever be expected, and instead of wondering why some things have not been...
7873To Benjamin Franklin from Dumas, 4 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Algemeen Rijksarchief Les Etats d’Hollde. ont enfin pris la Résolution finale & unanime, de comprendre sous leurs Convois les Bois de Construction, & d’annoncer à la Cour de Londres qu’on protegera le Commerce de la Rep. dans toute l’étendue des Traités. Comme cette Résolution annulle toutes celles de L.H.P. qui, sans se relâcher sur le droit,...
7874To Benjamin Franklin from Joan Derk van der Capellen tot den Pol, 6 September[–after 14 December 1778] (Franklin Papers)
Translations: Public Record Office, National Archives; incomplete ALS : American Philosophical Society; incomplete copies: National Archives, Connecticut State Library, Massachusetts Historical Society (two) I took the liberty to write you a Letter dated Zwol April 28. this year, and I was about writting you a second to inquire if you had received the first, when I found myself honoured with a...
7875To Benjamin Franklin from John Bartram, 10 April 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received with great pleasure my dear friends letter of January the 9th 1769 and am much obliged to him for his kindness in takeing care of the Box for the King. I should have wrote to Michael Colinson Last fall but I did not know then his name alltho I asked several that had frequented his fathers house but towards the spring I received a very kindly...
7876To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens, 3 February 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress; copy: University of South Carolina Library I ask your pardon for having so long delayed an acknowledgement of your favor of the 6th. December. first occasioned by a purpose of writing by Mr. Jay, whose departure was uncertain & I happned to be abroad when he was so good as to call upon me at Bath to take leave. Immediately after he left us, I was seized by a violent...
7877To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Price, 30 September 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have Sent you enclosed Dr. Priestley’s letter to you, together with another which I received from him last night. Indeed I don’t know whether to be glad or Sorry on account of his rejection of Lord Shelburne’s proposal. I love him and am heartily concerned for him and wish he was better provided for. I think myself extremely obliged to you for mentioning...
7878To Benjamin Franklin from Tristram Dalton, 13 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Three ALS : American Philosophical Society I take the Liberty of enclosing to You sundry Papers, relative to the Loss of the Brigne. Fair Play—which Vessel was sunk, last Jany, by Shot, fired from a small Battery, on the Island of Gaudaloupe— The Depositions of Andrew Giddings & S Mc Clintock, the two principal Officers on Board said Brig, contain the particular Circumstances of this unhappy...
7879To Benjamin Franklin from Robert R. Livingston, 26 November 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania Library; al (draft): New-York Historical Society; copy and transcript: National Archives The Marquis de la Fayette who has obtained leave to revisit his family for the winter does me the honor to be the Bearer of this, and duplicates of two former Letters to you. The degree of Estimation in which he is held here you will...
7880To Benjamin Franklin from William Strahan, 13 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I am very glad to be able to renew our long interrupted Correspondence, by sending you the inclosed Acts, which are just past here, by and in consequence of which you will find all Grounds of Complaints from the Colonies against Britain effectually removed. The Commissioners to be sent from hence, if I am rightly informed, are Lord Carlisle;...
7881Pennsylvania Assembly Committee of Correspondence to Benjamin Franklin and Richard Jackson, 18 April 1769 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Library of Congress Being desirous of preventing any ill Effects which may ensue from a Misrepresentation of the Conduct of the Inhabitants of the Province at this Critical Juncture, We think it necessary to give you a brief account of a Riot lately committed in this City, by a few of the lower kind of the People, That, if any mention should be made of it, on your side of the Water, to...
7882To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Hewson, 12 December 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society By not being inform’d in proper time I have miss’d several opportunities of writing to you, which I regret because I wish to live in your memory, and to convince you that you are in mine. Do not sigh at the addition I make to the packet, for I ask no return, you have enough to do without scribbling to me, and my letters you may lay by till you have a few...
7883To Benjamin Franklin from John Morgan, 10 October 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am under so many Obligations to You that I fear I shall never have it in my power to make you any due acknowledgement. If a Mind filled with esteem and regard for You could be a proper Apology for the want of a better return, I should have no difficulty to make one. Very many Instances of your readiness to oblige those of whom you have ever been pleased...
7884To Benjamin Franklin from William Temple Franklin, 7 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have now the Pleasure of informing you, (and indeed it is a great one) that I have got the better of that stubborn Monster the Fever & Ague. I thought myself exceedingly unfortunate when I was taken with it,—but I esteem myself fortunate to a much greater Degree in being so soon quit of it. It is to the excellent Advice of Dr. Jefferies, the constant &...
7885To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis de Lafayette, 14 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society From the Sight of this hand writing, you will, I dare say, expect some dissertation on Military, Political, and in a word on Public Affairs— how far you are from guessing the object of My letter will clearly Appear in a little time. I am not a scavant , My Good friend, I am nothing But a Rough soldier, and would hardly do for a Committee-Man, tho you know...
7886To Benjamin Franklin from [Samuel Wharton], 13 October 1765 (Franklin Papers)
AL (incomplete): American Philosophical Society As I am without any of your Favors, I shall proceed to give you a Relation of such Matters, as have occur’d, for some time before and since Our Election. The proprietary Party were greatly dispirited before there was an Expectation of a Change in the Ministry. But from the Moment They received that Intelligence, until We got an Account of it’s...
7887To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 17 September 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I cannot forbear expressing to you the Pleasure I receivd from hearing you were appointed by Congress with others to confer with Lord and Genl. Howe. The Subject of this Conference we do not as yet certainly know, but suppose it was desird on their Part for something more than settling an Exchange of Prisoners. I am not sorry our Enemies appear so eager for...
7888To Benjamin Franklin from Dumas, 7 December 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society C’est avec bien de la satisfaction que j’ai vu dans une de vos Lettres, que S. E. Mr. Adams vient de me communiquer, que non seulement vous êtes délivré de la Goutte, mais qu’elle vous a même laissé, en vous quittant, un surcroit de santé. Ainsi Soitil! pour le bien de l’Amérique, & pour le mien. On m’assure, qu’outre le Courier parti pour Petersbourg avec...
7889To Benjamin Franklin from the Earl of Shelburne, 6 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress; ALS (draft): Public Record Office; transcripts: Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives Under the previous division of responsibilities among three secretaries of state, the British government had assigned American affairs to the secretary of state for the American colonies. With the abolition of that post, a struggle for control of negotiations with the...
7890To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Morris: Two Letters, 23 May 1782 (Franklin Papers)
(I) Three LS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania; copy: Library of Congress; (II) LS : American Philosophical Society, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania Library; copy: Library of Congress I received last Evening your Letters by the Alliance, Captain Barry, who having come within our Capes, was chased out again by a Ship of the Line. She arrived at New-London. I...